NationStates Jolt Archive

Here's something I'm betting a lot of people don't know about- the US govt. (according to one news source, link below) has contracted approx. 15000 mercenaries, primarily from Blackwater USA.
What do you think?

http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-04/18/article03.shtml

Further info from BBC:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3590887.stm

So some people are being paid to do security work in Iraq. It's a hazardous job, the military doesn't have enough spare manpower to do it, so people are being hired to do it. No big deal.

Private contractors doing military work- it sounds to me like a way to reduce the number of official American casualties, and thus reduce negative publicity from the war at home.

Private contractors doing military work- it sounds to me like a way to reduce the number of official American casualties, and thus reduce negative publicity from the war at home.


smart plan then

Ever since 1975, the US military has been predicated on the idea of recruiting people regularly in 4 year blocks, retaining few of them for active duty, and relegating people (in 4 year blocks) to the inactive reserve. A few people would go to Active Reserve and National Guard.

So, like many, I did my 4 years active, 4 years inactive. The US in essence has millions of trained soldiers - but few are in service, and few are obligated by remaining inactive reserve time.

What to do when you need those trained soldiers, many of whom (like me) are still in great shape, and are still good shots?

You hire them as contractors, through companies like Titan, CSC (Dyncorp), Custer Battles, and Blackwater.

We have literally trained tens of thousands of special forces troops - most of whom we only recently let out of their obligations - and then the war came.

smart plan then

Indeed. But I'm having a horrible time finding any American media coverage- despite the allegations that some fof the interrogations done by "US" forces in Iraq were actually done by these "civilian contractors".
Abu Gharaib, anyone?

although I do think it sux that my tax dollars are going to these mercs - they get paid way too much. We dont even have all of our forces deplyed, we could spare another 15000 of our own to replace these guys no?

Indeed. But I'm having a horrible time finding any American media coverage- despite the allegations that some fof the interrogations done by "US" forces in Iraq were actually done by these "civilian contractors".
Abu Gharaib, anyone?
It's been covered on NPR.

It's been covered on NPR.

What's NPR?

National Public Radio

National Public Radio

Thank you. But no TV or newspaper coverage (mainstream newspapers) that I can find, yet.

here in Lost Wages it's Nevada Public Radio :p

Indeed. But I'm having a horrible time finding any American media coverage- despite the allegations that some fof the interrogations done by "US" forces in Iraq were actually done by these "civilian contractors".
Abu Gharaib, anyone?


Abu Ghraib was an example of bad leadership on the ground. The officers and NCO personnel did not do their damn jobs. Trying to tar the whole service with that is like tarring the whole service with Lt. Calley.

This site:
http://www.sandline.com/hotlinks/AlterNet_Mercenaries.html
also claims that most of the mercenaries come from Chile (where they were formerly employed by dictator and criminal Augusto Pinochet) and South Africa (where they propped up apartheid). I think that the use of these somewhat questionable soldiers is particularly alarming given the abuse allegations that have come out of Iraq.

Only in America.

although I do think it sux that my tax dollars are going to these mercs - they get paid way too much. We dont even have all of our forces deplyed, we could spare another 15000 of our own to replace these guys no?

It costs over a million dollars in training to create a Special Forces soldier.

After he serves 4 years active, and 4 years reserve, he's out.

Want him back?

You can pay him 120,000 per year, or spend another million.

Some people have the idea that infantry are stupid - they are an order of magnitude better trained than in any previous generation.

Only in America.
No, lots of countries use private security forces. Or were you refering to public radio?

Abu Ghraib was an example of bad leadership on the ground. The officers and NCO personnel did not do their damn jobs. Trying to tar the whole service with that is like tarring the whole service with Lt. Calley.

I'm not attacking the american army- I'm saying is it possible that some of the abuses attributed to them were in fact done by "civilian contractors"- people that the US could keep at arms length and use to get the sorts of information a military interrogation, with rules, wouldn't be able to get?
(Similar to the first-world policy of extraditing terror suspects to the Arab world for questioning)

No, lots of countries use private security forces. Or were you refering to public radio?
Radio. :)

It costs over a million dollars in training to create a Special Forces soldier.

After he serves 4 years active, and 4 years reserve, he's out.

Want him back?

You can pay him 120,000 per year, or spend another million.

Some people have the idea that infantry are stupid - they are an order of magnitude better trained than in any previous generation.

Particularly in the US- by far the best prepared army in the world.

It costs over a million dollars in training to create a Special Forces soldier.

After he serves 4 years active, and 4 years reserve, he's out.

Want him back?

You can pay him 120,000 per year, or spend another million.

Some people have the idea that infantry are stupid - they are an order of magnitude better trained than in any previous generation.


no I dont want them back

And like I said, we have WAY MORE than 15,000 soldiers already on hand to send to Iraq to replace these guys - why not use them?

Particularly in the US- by far the best prepared army in the world.

Some of the people here think that they're easily replaced.

Think of an Army where the lowliest infantryman has experience in simulated combat, more combat exercises (including overseas rotations), fires 20,000 rounds per year, and gets far more training time than any other Army.

That's the US Army now.

Wow, that's weird, I was just watching a program on the History Channel about the evolution of the PMC.

However, it should be noted that in general we are not talking about former US-army, or former SAS mercenaries in Iraq. These people are coming from much less refined, disciplined military units, and many are in the country illegally. Here are some quotes frm another article I found:
(whole article @ http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=387284)

"My people know how to use weapons and they're all SAS," said the British leader of one security team in southern Baghdad. "But there are people running around with guns now who are just cowboys.

"We always conceal our weapons, but these guys think they're in a Hollywood film."

There are serious doubts even within the occupying power about the US's choice to send Chilean mercenaries, many trained during General Augusto Pinochet's vicious dictatorship, to guard Baghdad airport.

Many South Africans are in Iraq illegally - they are breaking new laws, passed by the government in Pretoria, to control South Africa's booming export of mercenaries. Several have been arrested on their return home.

Will that win over hearts and minds?

no but it might shock them right in the awe!

Wow, that's weird, I was just watching a program on the History Channel about the evolution of the PMC.

Good book on the subject is Fortune's Warriors, by a current member of a private military company.